DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board approved Eversource's request for a special permit to upgrade the utility's infrastructure on Barton Hill Road.

 

During the public hearing last week, abutting residents expressed that they were satisfied with the updated plans. 

 

Eversource line worker apprentice Brandon Owen and other representatives have been communicating with the affected residents to find an ideal location for everyone in the splice pit.

 

With this approval, Eversources civil contractor, Dan Burke Construction, will begin the trenching portion of the project almost immediately because that is what takes the longest, Eversource Senior Account Executive Esther Balardini said. 

 

Dan Burke Construction is Eversource's primary civil contractor so they have worked with him many times, Balardini said.

 

Construction will take place between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday for an expected duration of two months, contingent on the weather, Eversource Capital Project Design Supervisor Nicholas Langone said in an email to Town Manager's Executive Assistant Alyssa Maschino. 

 

Any construction concerns can be directed to Eversource's Senior Operations Supervisor, Matthew Ferrarin, at 413-488-9005 or to Balardini at 413-499-9014, Balardini said in a letter to the Select Board. 

 

Once the trench conduits are in and the concrete is plotted, Eversource will come in to do their portion of the project, she said. 

 

Balardini said that when the work is done, Eversource will return to review the location with a town representative for a final sign-off on the project. 

 

The splice pit was proposed to be placed directly in front of 126 Barton Hill Road, which residents objected to because it would have been an eyesore, especially considering nothing can grow on it. 

 

The residents of 126 Barton Hill Road requested that Eversource remove a burning bush and place the splice pit there instead. Eversource reviewed the request with its operations team and approved the new location. 

 

The transformer boxes on Kimberly Drive are going to be replaced, and manholes will be installed behind them where the secondary connections are made, Langone said. In addition to that one of the boxes will be shifted forward closer to the road. 

 

During a previous meeting, residents questioned the need for this upgrade as they have not had any issues with their power.

 

Eversource line worker apprentice Brandon Owen explained during that meeting that here has been an influx of solar, and the current system is outdated so, the load is getting pushed back onto the grid, and the existing infrastructure can't reliably handle what is currently in the ground.